All-Russia Congress of Co-operative Associations

March 25-28, 1917

Held in Moscow. The Congress was attended by nearly
800 delegates and dealt with the questions of
organising an All-Russia Co-operative Union, preparing for the elections
to the Constituent Assembly, participation of the co-operative
organisations in the business of food supply, and other questions.

The dominate parties at the Congress were the Mensheviks and SRs. The Congress
declared in favour of support to the Provisional Government and the
continuation of the war, but demanded the transfer of all
the land to the working people, the democratisation of the system of
government and self-government.

The Congress's attitude to the Soviets of Peasants' Deputies, as the best
form of peasants' mass organisation – an attitude which drew Lenin's
attention – was expressed in the resolution on the report concerning
"Participation of the Co-operatives in
the Country's Regeneration".